Imagine an apparel sourcing world with a single set of testing and auditing procedures across product safety, social compliance and environmental sustainability. Where PVH would accept an audit by VF, and VF would accept an audit by Under Armour. Well, it’s a vision already shared by around 30 of the world's biggest brands and retailers – and they’re urging more companies to get involved.

More than 200 companies have now signed the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh following the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory building in Dhaka, which killed more than 1,100 people in 2013.

Pakistan's ambition to double its clothing and textile exports over five years, and its accession to the EU's GSP+ trade scheme last year, suggest it should be an exciting prospect for apparel sourcing. However, in the last year two companies have pulled production out of the country, citing risk, delays and instability. This might not yet point to a wider trend, but their concerns highlight issues worth watching.

An estimated one-third of Lesotho's textile and clothing production will be decimated if the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is not renewed in September, a senior South African textile and clothing sector consultant has warned.

Athletes are increasingly using clothing embedded with sensors and biometric tools to measure their performance. But while the industry is edging closer to adapting these products for the mass market, the overriding challenge is the garments' washability.

The past year has seen value retailer C&A confront head-on the challenge of delivering consistent fit across key categories such as lingerie, trousers and denim. A complete overhaul of its approach is now seen as the precursor to building market share, sales, brand loyalty and a multi-channel push.

Smart fabrics and wearable technology go hand in hand. And with strong growth forecast over the coming years, it's no wonder fashion and software companies are developing new products to tap into the market. Katie Smith reports.

The threat of potential disruption as supply chains become increasingly complex is the top concern for manufacturing businesses, a new survey suggests – with natural disasters seen as the greatest threat to apparel sourcing.

Everything from a sock that detects early heart failure, to a smart shirt that measures biometric data with medical precision, and a shoe that can communicate via haptic feedback while also acting as a navigational tool, were displayed in London last week. Experts speaking at the Wearable Technology Show shared their views on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

The second edition of the annual Wearable Technology Show took place in London last week, highlighting some of the latest launches and prototypes ranging from textile sensors and software to performance tracking and navigation systems. Beth Wright looks at some of the textile and garment innovations and developments on display.

Fashion brands and retailers need to embrace “radical change” in their apparel sizing and fit strategies if they are to remain competitive in a changing environment. And for Alvanon’s Ed Gribbin, there are lessons to be learned from technology giants like Apple.

Supermarket retailer Tesco has calculated that cutting lead times by one to two weeks on around one-third of the styles in its F&F clothing range adds 4-8% to net margin and generates savings of between GBP20m and GBP40m (US$30-60m). And this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits of 3D virtual fit and prototyping technology.

The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety is in the final stages of setting up an affordable credit facility to provide low-cost loans that will enable its members' supplier factories move forward on remediation work.